Device for minimizing the oscillatory movements of ships.



No. 769,493. PATENTED SEPT. 6, 1904 E. O. SOHLIGK. DEVIGE FOR MINIMIZING THE OSUILLATORY MOVEMENTS OF SHIPS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 11, 1903. N0 MODEL.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

PATENTED SEPT. 6, 1904, E. O. SCHLICK. DEVICE FOR MINIMIZING THE OSGILLATORY MOVEMENTS OF SHIPS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 11. 1903.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

no MODEL.

IIIIllllllllliiimlflllllllllllllill I.

UNITED STATES Patented September 6, 1904.

PATENT OEEicE.

DEVICE FOR MINIMIZING THE OSCILLATORY MOVEMENTS OF SHIPS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 769,493, dated September 6, 1904. Application filed May 11, 1903. Serial No. 156,631. (No model.)

To (All 10/1 0710 itnm/ concern:

Be it known that I, ERNST O'rro ScnLioK, a subject of the German Emperor, and a resident of Hamburg, in the German Empire, have invented a certain new and useful Device for Minimizing the Oscillatory Movements of Ships, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a device by means of which the oscillatory movements of ships, and particularly of steamers, may be considerably reduced or greatly retarded. For this purpose one or more rotating bodies are employed, these being mounted in the ship in such a manner that forces similar to those developed in the Archimedean top are caused to act.

in the accompanying drawings, in which like parts are similarly designated, Figure 1 is a perspective view of an ordinary fly-wheel or disk. Fig. 2 is an elevation of my improved device. Fig. 8 is a sectional view of Fig. 2, taken at right angles, but showing the device in another working position. Fig. 4 is a cross-section of a ship provided with my improved device. Fig. 5 shows two rotating devices coupled with each other. Figs. 6 and and 7 show two different working positions of of two coupled devices represented by Fig. 5. Fig. 8 shows a modification comprising three rotating devices coupled with one another. Fig. 9 is an elevation showing driving means and brake and buffer devices. Fig. 10 is a plan thereof, and Fig. 11 is a detail view showing the brake in side elevation.

The theory of my invention may be briefly stated as follows: If a fly-wheel or disk (I, Fig. 1, rotates rapidly around a vertical axis 7) in the direction of the arrow and the axis is inclined in the direction of the arrows P, certain forces F exist which oppose this inclination. If new the axis 7) of the rotating disk or body a is mounted in a frame 0, Fig. 2, which is rotatable on journals (Z (I, or, in other words, if the rotating body is mounted in a (ardan or gimbal ring and the frame a is inclined in the direction of the arrows K K an inclination of the axis 7) of the rotating body a likewiseproduced, as it is Well known and shown in Fig. 3. The inclination of the frame is opposed by certain forces R R, Fig. 2.

This invention is based upon these characteristic phenomena, its simplest constructional form being that in which the horizontal axis (Z (I of the gimbal suspension of the rotating body (1' assumes in the hull of the ship that direction in which the oscillatory movements are to be impeded, Fig. a. Every force acting on the ship which tends to produce 01' actually produce a lateral inclination of the vessel gives rise to a counter force in the rotary system when the body is in rotation. Ordinarily lateral oscillation or rolling of the vessel cannot entirely be prevented, but only largely reduced, and above all considerably retarded, the rotating body and the frame then slowly swinging or rocking to and fro around the axis of suspension or journals (Z.

The rotation of the rotary body may conveniently be produced by means of an electric motor, steam-engine, or steam'turbine, a governor being provided for regulating the speed and a braking device for sudden stoppages. Similar regulating and brake devices may also be provided for the rocking frame, if desired.

As the checking or retarding action of the rotating body ceases when the axis of rotation I) is horizontal that is to say, parallel with the axis of oscillation of the vessel-and as when the rotary body occupies this position it will not right itself, the axis (1 (I of the gimbal suspension is arranged in such a manner that the rotary body system can only become inclined to the horizontal plane up to an angle of about ten degrees. As means to this end weights w may be arranged below the frame 0, buffers may be employed, or an ap pliance may be provided for inclining and retaining the frame in any desired position. For this purpose hydraulic, pneumatic, electric, or steam power may be utilized.

In the drawings, Figs. 9 and 10, I have shown a fly-wheel a mounted on a shaft 1), that carries armatures rotating between [ieldmagnets 11, that are secured to the frame a, in which the shaft 7/ is mounted. One of the trunnions (I of the frame a carries a frictionwheel 12, around which passes a band 0 of a friction-brake, said band tightened by means of a lever p, operated by a steam-cylinder (1 in a well-known manner. The frame is provided with a wrist-pin r, on which is journaled one end of a piston-rod s, the other end being connected to a piston 2? 01 a cataract or otherwise acting as a bufier to limit the angular movement of the frame a. As herein shown, said bufler device consists of a cylinder'u, having journal-bearings?) to enable the cylinder to oscillate. The ends of the cylinder '2) are connected by a pipe w, in which is a valve :0 to regulate the flow of water or oil from one end of the cylinder to the other.

The rotary body can be held stationary by applying the band brake. Circumstances may arise in which it is desirable or necessary to thus temporarily render the device inoperative.

In order to deaden the oscillatory movements or rolling of large vessels to the greatest possible extent, a number of rotary bodies may be provided and arranged longitudinally of the vessel, or, in other words, in line fore and aft,this arrangement presenting the advantage that each of these bodies need not be excessively large. These rotary bodies may be independent or coupled one with the other by means of chain or cable or other suitable transmission gear f over suitable chainwheels, pulleys, or the like 6, mounted on the axles cl, as indicated by dotted lines in Figs. 5 and 8. The two systems are inclined one to the other in such a manner that the inclina tion of one of these systems tends to maintain the other system upright. When the ship is in an upright'floating position-that is to say, without anylateral inclinationthe two body systems shall have or keep up the positions shown by Fig. 5. On lateral inclinations or oscillations of the ship positions according to Figs. 6 and 7 will take place, as by the lateral inclination of the ship one of the rotating bodies will still more incline, and thereby assist the other rotating body in standing up or righting itself. Fig. 8 shows a rotating-body system comprising three rotating bodies coupled with one another.

The inclination of each axis of rotation from its vertical position takes place with increasing angular velocity. When necessary, therefore, the arrangement of the coupling should be such as to allow for this, so that when a number of rotary bodies are employed they may the better cooperate. The coupling should be such that the rotary bodies already inclined are able to still further incline to a greater angle than the rotary bodies the axes of which were originally vertical. This may be effected by the employment of spirally-formed cable or chain disks, combinations of levers, or in any other suitable manner, which being fully clear to persons skilled in the particular art require no special description and representation.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new therein, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination with a vessel, of a flywheel support mounted to oscillate on an axis, a fly-Wheel journaled in said support with its axis extending transversely of the axis of said support, the axis of said support lying generally in the plane of motion to be counteracted and means to rotate the fly-wheel, and means independent of the support to limit the angular movement of the support, substantially as described.

2. The combination with a vessel, of a flywheel support mounted to oscillate on an axis, a fly-wheel journaled in said support with its axis extending transversely to the axis of the support, the axis of said support lying generally in the plane of motion to be counteracted, means to rotate the fly-wheel, means connected to and independent of the support to decrease its rate of angular movement, and means independent of the support to stop the movement of the support at a given point, substantially as described.

3. The combination with avessel, of a plurality of fly-wheel supports mounted to rotate on axes in a plane extending generally in the plane of motion to be counteracted, afly-wheel mounted in each support having its axis transverse to the axis of the support, means to movably connect the axes of said supports to maintain the axes of the fly-wheels in relative angular positions and means to rotate the flywheels, and means to limit the angular movement of the supports, substantially as described.

4. The combination with a vessel, of a plurality of fly-wheel supports mounted to oscillate on axes extending transversely of the axis of the vessel, a fly-wheel journaled in each of said supports with its axis extending transversely of the axis of said support and of the longitudinal axis of the vessel, whereby the fly-wheels tend to maintain themselves in and rotate in a horizontal plane, means to rotate the fiy-wheels, a sprocket-wheel on the axis of each support and a chain connection between the sprocket-wheels to maintain the axes of the fly-wheels relatively inclined and to assist those fiy-wheels inclined near the critical angle to right themselves, substantially as described.

5. The combination with a vessel, of flywheel supports mounted therein to oscillate, a fly-wheel mounted in each support, means to drive the fly-wheels and means to interconnect the supports, and means to limit the angular movement of the supports, whereby the movement of one support will be communicated to the others, substantially as described.

6. The combination with a vessel, of a plurality of fly-wheel supports mounted to rotate on axes in a plane extending generally in the plane of motion to be counteracted, a fly-wheel mounted in each support having its axis transverse to the axis of the support, means to movably connect the axes of said supports to maintain the axes of the fly-Wheels in relative an gular positions, means to rotate the fi Y-\Vl10lS and means to limit the angular movement of the supports, substantially as described.

7. The combination with a vessel, of a Hy- Wheel support mounted to oscillate on an axis, a fly-Wheel journaled in said support With its axis extending transversely of the axis of said support, the axis of said support lying generally in the plane of motion to be counteracted, means to rotate the fly-Wheel and butfers to limit the angular movement of the support, substantially as described.

8. The combination with a vessel, of a plu- 

